UPDATE: A former care home manager, Naijil Paul, has been sentenced to seven years and nine months in prison for raping a colleague and sexually assaulting two others. The High Court in Glasgow delivered the verdict after Paul was extradited from India, where he fled to avoid justice.
The 47-year-old was convicted of these heinous acts, which took place while he managed a care facility in Lanarkshire. In a shocking revelation, the court heard Paul coerced one victim into compliance by threatening her job security, insisting she “do what I want” or face financial ruin. His guilty plea, submitted in October, did not absolve him of showing “quite a degree of victim blaming” during sentencing.
In addition to the prison term, Paul will be under supervision for two years upon his release and will remain on the sex offenders list for life. The court has also issued a restraining order preventing him from contacting any of the victims.
The chilling events date back to 2018 when Paul entered a victim’s office alone, closing the door behind him. He exploited her vulnerability, knowing she suffered from health issues that impacted her job performance. The victim’s silence on the matter was enforced by Paul’s threats, leading her to only come forward during a police investigation into his pattern of predatory behavior.
Details revealed during the court proceedings described Paul’s predatory nature, with another victim, a 19-year-old care assistant, recounting how he made unwanted advances, including attempting to kiss her and inappropriately touching her. She described feeling “shaken and at a loss for words” following the encounters.
In a separate incident, a 21-year-old care assistant endured similar harassment. Paul questioned her relationship status and made inappropriate comments about her body language, further asserting his authority by physically touching her without consent. His actions left her frightened of losing her job if she reported him.
Paul was initially set to stand trial in 2019 but failed to appear, prompting a warrant for his arrest. He fled to Kochi, India, claiming family issues, but was arrested in February this year and extradited back to Scotland to face the charges.
During sentencing, Lord Renucci condemned Paul’s behavior, noting that he had manipulated his position of power over the victims. The judge remarked on Paul’s attempt to downplay the severity of his actions, referring to one rape as a “sexual encounter” and claiming it was consensual.
This case underscores the ongoing issue of workplace sexual assault and the need for accountability for those in power. The victims’ courage in coming forward has highlighted the critical need for protective measures in workplaces vulnerable to abuse.
What’s next? Following this verdict, advocacy groups are urging for increased awareness and preventive measures in care facilities to protect vulnerable employees from similar predatory behavior. The case has sparked discussions about the importance of reporting and addressing sexual misconduct in all sectors.
This urgent case emphasizes the need for society to confront and combat sexual violence in the workplace, ensuring that victims are empowered to speak out without fear of retaliation.
